Cigarette Smoking and Blood Pressure in a Worker Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Cigarette smoking has been reported to cause an acute increase in blood pressure (BP). Nevertheless, many epidemiological studies have found lower average BP values in smokers than in non-smokers. T h e aim of this study was to evaluate the possible existence of a systematic difference in BP values between smokers and non-smokers in a worker population. MethodsWe studied 7109 employees of a metallurgical factory, all men, aged 18-60 years, 3237 non-smokers and 3872 smokers; of the latter, 816 smoked less than 10 cigarettes per day (light smokers), the others smoked 10 or more cigarettes per day. Clinical examination included measures of resting BP (by mercury sphygmomanometer), heart rate (HR) (by pulse palpation), body weight and height. Data were adjusted for age and body mass index (BMI). Four age groups (18-30, >30, >40 and >SO years) and 3 BMI groups (<25, 25-30, >30) were considered. ResultsIn smokers, the adjusted values of systolic BP (SBP) and HR (127.72 mmHg and 75.16 beatslmin, respectively) were slightly but significantly higher than in nonsmokers (127.1 mmHg, P < 0.05 and 72.64 beatslmin, P < 0.001), whereas diastolic BP (DBP) was significantly lower (83.37 versus 84.31 mmHg, P < 0.001). Considering the amount of cigarettes smoked, the mean BP values of light smokers were not significantly different from those of subjects smoking 10 or more cigarettes per day, whereas H R mean values were significantly higher in the latter. T h e prevalence of hypertension (WHO criteria) was similar in smokers and non-smokers in each age group.Conclusions Our data showed slightly but statistically higher SBP and HR, and lower DBP mean values in smokers than in non-smokers; however, the differences in BP, although significant from the statistical point of view, were not of actual clinical significance.

Comparison of Risk Factors Between Prehypertension and Hypertension in Korean Male Industrial Workers

“…Current smoking was found to have a negative relationship with prehypertension, and this finding supported previous studies where BPs were significantly lower in smokers than in nonsmoker. (Fogari et al, 1996; Lee & Cho, 2002). However, more careful interpretation is needed because this study did not consider the possibility that some may have underreported, given strict company policy that prohibited smoking at work.…”

Blood Pressure Circadian Rhythm and Endothelial Function in Heavy Smokers: Acute Effects of Transdermal Nicotine

“…However, the risk associated with NRT is considerably lower than that associated with the continuation of smoking 12 . The endothelium‐dependent dysfunction induced by the withdrawal of smoke‐derived nicotine may contribute to vascular hyperreactivity and is probably sustained by high levels of nicotine seen in smokers 36–40 …”

Relationship of predominantly mild current smoking to out-of-office blood pressure in a community sample in Africa

“…Although a clinically relevant effect of cigarette smoking on in-office blood pressure (BP) is controversial [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14], as patients may refrain from smoking prior to office visits and cigarette smoking has relatively short-lived effects on BP [15][16][17][18][19], the major clinical impact of smoking on BP may not be accurately captured by in-office BP measurements. Indeed, despite a lack of relationship between smoking and in-office BP, a relationship between current smoking and out-of-office (24-h) BP has been reported on [20][21][22][23][24].…”